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Temple Grandin To Visit UAFS

A key player in the realms of autism and animal welfare will share her knowledge next month in Fort Smith.

Dr. Temple Grandin, an author, autism activist and popular doctor of animal science, will speak and sign copies of her books at 5:30 p.m. March 11 at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith’s Stubblefield Center, 5402 Kinkead Ave. Tickets for the event, which is part of the community-wide “Read This!” book read program, are free and can be obtained by calling the UAFS box office at 788-7300.

“A lot of people know of Dr. Grandin from the Claire Danes movie, ‘Temple Grandin,’ but a lot of people don’t realize what an amazing speaker and educator she is today,” said Dr. Joe Hardin, dean of the College of Languages and Communication at UAFS. “Dr. Grandin is autistic, and she runs one of the most vibrant animal science operations in the country.”

Grandin’s upcoming appearance is part of the annual, community-wide “Read This!” book read program, which encourages area residents of all ages to learn more about autism and embrace other people’s differences, he said.

UAFS and other community groups and venues will host upcoming events to help promote autism awareness and reading, Hardin said.

“Dr. Grandin talks about various ways of thinking, and about the animal-science part of what she does, so it’s interesting,” Hardin said. “She also does some great autism awareness, so it’s a very interesting talk. She’s very engaging.”

A Boston native and professor at Colorado State University, Grandin also will visit with students from UAFS’s education, psychology and biology departments March 10, and free screenings of the “Temple Grandin” film will begin at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. March 4 in the Reynolds Room of UAFS’ Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center, he said.

“People are discovering that more people are affected by autism and other issues across the broad spectrum,” Hardin said. “Most of us know of someone who has autism, so it’s vital that we talk about it and we understand it.

“It’s also about bringing people together despite their differences,” he added. “This helps give students an idea of what it is to be different, and how to overcome that impulse to judge others who are different.”

Dr. Temple Grandin Events at UAFS

• 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. March 4 — the HBO movie “Temple Grandin ” will be seen in the Reynolds Room of UAFS’s Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center.

These events are part of a community-wide book read program that encourages reading and a better understanding of autism. Both events are free but a free ticket is needed for Grandin’s appearance March 11; free tickets can be obtained at the UAFS box office in the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center and by calling 788-7300.